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Every Given Sunday: Winding Down

A few months ago, it appeared that there would be wholesale changes made among major league general managers in the offseason, but now that no longer seems to be such a certainty. One team that will definitely have a new GM in 2009 is the Phillies, as Pat Gillick has already announced that he is retiring at the end of the season. It is conceivable, though unlikely, that the Phillies could be the only team to change GMs.

The most interesting GM scenario is playing out in New York, where Brian Cashman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is finishing his 11th season on the job and the first without a playoff appearance. While Yankees co-chairperson Hank Steinbrenner has said that he would like to re-sign Cashman, he also wants to establish an advisory group to run the baseball operation. Cashman has been noncommittal about coming back under such a setup, though Yankees sources indicate he would prefer to stay with the only organization he has ever worked for, beginning as an intern in 1988. However, Cashman agreed to his current three-year agreement with owner George Steinbrenner in 2005 only with the stipulation that he have autonomy in baseball decisions.

“I’m certainly not going to make this about me,” Cashman said. “I certainly have an operation set up like other operations, where I do have an advisory board. It’s my manager. It’s my coaching staff. It’s our pro scouting director. It’s our farm director. It’s our amateur scouting director. Those are the advisers that I utilize. But I fully support what the Steinbrenner family feels the proper structure needs to be, and I think they need to set that up. They need to take care of that for themselves. There’s no doubt about that.”

Hank Steinbrenner has made it clear he is not happy that the Yankees are on the verge of missing the postseason for the first time since 1993, and have not won a World Series since 2001. “If Brian stays on as GM, that doesn’t mean he won’t be the number one guy,” Steinbrenner said. “But the fact is, the more opinions the better. I think that’s probably the best way. It worked in the ’90s and it can work again.”

There have been season-long rumors linking Cashman with the Phillies’ and Mariners‘ GM jobs, but Cashman has consistently declined to talk about those openings, saying, “I already have a job.” While the consensus is that Cashman and the Steinbrenners will make it work again, there is no doubt that he would move to the front of the line for the vacancies with the Phillies and Mariners.

Assuming Cashman stays put, the Phillies almost certainly will pick assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. as Gillick’s replacement. Amaro, a Stanford graduate and former major league outfielder, has become one of the top GM candidates in the game in recent years, and often serves as the Phillies organization’s spokesman in Gillick’s stead.

The Mariners’ situation is less clear, though president Chuck Armstrong says that they want to build a strong foundation rather than attempt to go after quick fixes, such as the disastrous trade last winter with the Orioles for left-hander Erik Bedard. The Mariners have the worst record in the major leagues at 57-97 despite opening the season with a $117 million payroll. Lee Pelekoudas has been serving as the Mariners’ acting GM since being promoted from assistant GM on June 16 after Bill Bavasi was fired; it seems doubtful that he will be retained in the top slot. One name that keeps getting mentioned as a possibility for the Mariners is Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, who is considered the leading candidate to become the industry’s first female GM.

Beyond the Yankees, Mariners and Phillies, there may not be any other GM changes in the offseason. There was much speculation a few months back that the Nationals would let Jim Bowden go after this season, but while the Nationals’ NL-worst record of 58-97 would seem to only reconfirm that line of thought, Nationals owner Ted Lerner believes in Bowden’s plan to build the Nationals through scouting and player development, and reportedly plans to stick with him for the long haul.

Brian Sabean appears to have weathered the speculation that he would be out as the Giants‘ GM after five losing seasons and a change in managing general partners from Peter Magowan to William Neukom. All indications are that Sabean is staying as the Giants’ youth movement takes hold; they are 69-86 for the season, but have gone 29-31 since the All-Star break.

The Padres‘ Kevin Towers, the longest-tenured GM in the game, is also expected back next season despite speculation that CEO Sandy Alderson might make a change. There have been persistent reports that Towers would be of interest to the Mariners, but Alderson has maintained throughout the season that he will not let his GM out of the final year of his contract in 2009.

Finally, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi’s job is also safe, even though club president Paul Godfrey is considering leaving the franchise to head up Toronto’s bid to land an NFL franchise. The Blue Jays’ strong late-season showing has ensured Ricciardi will be back in 2009.

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The Astros are making a fashion statement in the final days of the season as a sign of protest. They’re wearing red T-shirts under their jerseys with a caricature of Commissioner Bud Selig on the front and the inscription “Bud killed us.” On the back are the words “We survived Hurricane Ike.”

The Astros are still clearly peeved that Selig rescheduled two of their three games against the Cubs that that could not be played in Houston last weekend because of Hurricane Ike to Milwaukee’s Miller Park, just a 90-minute drive from Chicago. The third game would be played at Minute Maid Park on September 29, the day after the regular season is scheduled to end, but only if its outcome impacts the playoff races. That seems highly unlikely at this point as the Cubs have clinched the National League Central title and the Astros are now 4½ games off of the Mets‘ pace in the wild-card standings with just eight games remaining. The Astros’ bid to win the wild card took a major hit after the hurricane, as they lost five straight games and six of seven, including being no-hit by the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano last Sunday and held to one hit the next afternoon. The Astros had won 14 of 15 games to pull within 2½ games of the wild-card lead when the storm hit.

“It’s just not right what happened,” said pitcher Brandon Backe, the Astros’ player representative to the Major League Baseball Players Association, and also a native of Galveston, Texas, which was devastated by the hurricane. “I know all about the playoffs supposedly needing to start on time because of Fox and all that stuff, but I also think you have to do what is fair, and what happened to us was not fair. We were denied the chance to play three important home games that could have made our season, possibly been the thing that got us to the playoffs. It’s just not right that we, in essence, had to turn two of those games into Cubs’ home games. The games could have been made up after the season was supposed to end. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world to push the start of the playoffs back a couple of days. It would have been the right thing to do to give everyone a fair chance.”

Backe, whose home in the Houston suburbs survived the storm with minimal damage, also was not happy that the Astros were forced to play games on the road less than 48 hours after the eye of the hurricane passed over the city. “Everybody on this team was affected by the hurricane to one extent or another,” Backe said. “To make us have to leave our homes so soon after a major disaster struck showed no compassion whatsoever. All of my family and friends were affected by the storm. Some of the people closest to me are homeless because their houses are gone. It was really a flip of the coin whether I was going to get on that plane and go to Chicago. I knew it was the right thing to do to go with the team but it was hard to leave, one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. I don’t think anybody’s heart was in those games in Milwaukee. Heck, we got one hit in two games. What does that tell you?”

Backe also pointed out that Major League Baseball postponed a week’s worth of games following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and moved the start of the postseason back one week. “I’m not equating 9/11 with what we went through in Houston, because 9/11 impacted the whole nation,” Backe said. “My point, though, is baseball started the playoffs late that year. They still had the playoffs and World Series like normal. They made adjustments then, and they could have made adjustments now.”

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The Cubs certainly enjoyed their impromptu two-game excursion to Miller Park, and it went beyond winning both games against the Astros. While it is anathema to suggest that Wrigley Field should ever be replaced, getting the chance to call Miller Park home for two days made some Cubs players wistful to have a modern facility to call their own. “Miller Park is beautiful,” center fielder Jim Edmonds told the Chicago Tribune. “I have a much greater appreciation for that field now that we saw the other side. I don’t know what they should do with [Wrigley] because it is a great place, a place people have been coming to for almost 100 years. Everyone is going to have a different opinion. It’s like old Busch Stadium. People didn’t want it torn down, even though [the Cardinals needed a new ballpark], because it was still a great place.”

The downside about Wrigley Field for the players is that the clubhouse is one of the smallest in the league. Throw in the large numbers of media members covering pennant-race games, and the situation is nearly unworkable in the team’s dressing quarters. “That’s what we have in front of us and what we deal with,” Edmonds said. “I mean, I enjoy it and I enjoy the history. Of course it’s always nice to have a new place. The weight room in Milwaukee is as big as our clubhouse, and they have whirlpool and weight rooms and batting cages, but [Wrigley] is what it is.”

Right-hander Jason Marquis thinks the best solution would be to build a replica Wrigley Field on the current site, though that would cause the Cubs to have to find a temporary home for at least two seasons, most likely U.S. Cellular Field if the White Sox were be amenable. “You never want to see a landmark taken down, a place with so much history,” Marquis said. “The fans love it. That being said, the game is changing, stadiums are getting updated. There are better facilities, not only for the players, but for the fans-better food concessions, comfortable seats, better views. If I had a personal choice, I think they should knock Wrigley down and build a replica in the exact same spot to give it that same feel. The same colored seats, same ivy, same wall, and throw up a Jumbotron, but have it look like a replica of the scoreboard that’s up there now, try to give it the same feel, in the same spot. I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

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The Angels have cruised to the American League championship, but that doesn’t mean the roster will return intact in 2009. It would seem impossible to keep the team together in light of owner Arte Moreno telling the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t plan to increase the team’s payroll much over this season’s $123 million figure. Considering that first baseman Mark Teixeira and record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez head a list of potential free agents that also includes right-hander Jon Garland and outfielders Garret Anderson and Juan Rivera, the Angels might need a $150 million payroll to re-sign those five players. “You’re always going to have X amount of transition on a team,” Moreno said. “There are a lot of very successful teams with lower payrolls than us. It’s not always how much you spend, it’s about spending wisely.”

First-year GM Tony Reagins already knows he is going to have to make some tough choices in the offseason and that he could have a challenging winter. “This didn’t just sneak up on us,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a busy offseason. We’ll do our homework and try to make the best decisions for our club, our fans, and the long-term health of the organization. The makeup of the team could be a little different next season, but we’re committed to bringing a competitive team to our fans year in and year out.”

It will likely take something in the range of seven years and $126 million to keep Teixeira, and five years and $70 million to retain Rodriguez, who has saved a major league-record 60 games this season, but Reagins says it is not impossible to project both stars being back next season. “We have an interest in Mark, and he is one of the players available who we will target,” Reagins said. “We’re open to getting something done with Francisco. He’s had a historic season, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

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AL Rumors and Rumblings: The Red Sox will have some tough decisions to make about their post-season pitching staff, primarily whether to use Tim Wakefield or Paul Byrd as the fourth starter, and if they should keep Mike Timlin in the bullpen. … The Yankees are expected to re-sign right-hander Mike Mussina to a one-year contract as a free agent, and to also make a pitch for Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson. That would allow them to trade second baseman Robinson Cano, possibly to the Dodgers. The Yankees are also unlikely to re-sign first baseman Jason Giambi or right fielder Bobby Abreu. … The Tigers are optimistic about their chances of re-signing right-hander Freddy Garcia as a free agent, and may also make a play for Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe, a native of suburban Detroit. They have no plans to re-sign left-hander Kenny Rogers. … The White Sox are so unlikely to re-sign third baseman Joe Crede that they’ve removed the nameplate above his locker in their clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field. … The Mariners are likely to non-tender left-hander Erik Bedard, who will miss a good chunk of next season because of shoulder surgery. … Designated hitter Milton Bradley says he will only re-sign with the Rangers if they offer him a multi-year contract. … The Orioles want to sign second baseman Brian Roberts and right fielder Nick Markakis to long-term contract extensions this winter. … The Royals plan to make Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur an off-season trade target. … The Blue Jays plan to make an aggressive bid to re-sign right-hander A.J. Burnett if, as expected, he opts out of the final two years and $24 million left of his five-year, $55 million contract. They also intend to pick up the club option on catcher Rod Barajas for next season, allowing catcher Gregg Zaun to leave as a free agent, perhaps making rookie Curtis Thigpen their backup behind the plate in 2009.

NL Rumors and Rumblings: The Giants would be willing to trade right-hander Matt Cain if they could land a big-time power hitter in return. … Dodgers right-hander Greg Maddux and Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome are both in danger of being left off of their team’s post-season rosters. … The Padres are now leaning on exercising right fielder Brian Giles‘ $9 million club option for 2009, while they also plan to non-tender catcher Josh Bard and go with rookie Nick Hundley behind the plate next season, signing the Astros’ Brad Ausmus as a free agent to be his backup. … The Mets are willing to trade second baseman Luis Castillo and pay a large part of the $18 million left on the final three years of his contract. … Cardinals utility player Adam Kennedy, who began the season as the starting second baseman, has asked to be traded. … The Nationals are considering moving center fielder Lastings Milledge to left field and right fielder Elijah Dukes to center to bolster their defense next season, while Anderson Hernandez will go to spring training as the favorite to be the starting second baseman ahead of Emilio Bonifacio. … The Marlins will give rookie Cameron Maybin first crack at winning their starting center fielder’s job next spring. … The Pirates say left-hander Paul Maholm is the only pitcher assured of being in the starting rotation when spring training begins. … Cardinals reliever Russ Springer is leaning toward retiring at the end of the season. … Right-hander Russ Ortiz, last seen pitching for the Giants last year, is looking to go to someone’s camp next spring.

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Interesting facts as the 25th week of the regular season comes to a close:

The Reds had a string of seven consecutive one-run games end last Sunday with a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks in 10 innings. The last team to play seven straight one-run games was the 2005 Braves.

The no-hitter by the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano last Sunday against the Astros in Milwaukee was the first one thrown at a neutral site in major league history. When Zambrano lasted just 1 2/3 innings Friday against the Cardinals, it was the shortest start after a no-hitter by a pitcher since the Cardinals’ Bob Forsch was knocked out after one-plus inning by the Pirates on April 23, 1978, seven days after spinning his gem against the Phillies.

Left-hander Scott Lewis is the first Indians pitcher to begin his career with 14 consecutive scoreless innings since 1969, when records are first available.

The Yankees are averaging 4.79 runs per game this season after scoring 5.98 a game last year. That is the Yankees’ biggest one-season drop since they went from 6.20 in 1921 to 4.92 in 1922.

When the Indians beat the Twins 12-9 in 11 innings on Tuesday night after blowing an 8-1 lead, it was the first time they had won a game in which they squandered a seven-run lead in the 44 years that records are available.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter played his 1,000th career game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, and now has played 1,003 games there. Only four other players have played more games at Yankee Stadium, which will host its final game tonight when the Yankees meet the Orioles: Mickey Mantle (1,213), Lou Gehrig (1,080), Yogi Berra (1,068), and Bernie Williams (1,039). The only active player to appear in more games in one stadium is Angels outfielder Garret Anderson, who has played 1,018 games at Angel Stadium.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has 128 RBI this season, two away from the major league record for runs driven in by a Canadian-born player (130), set by Larry Walker with the 1997 Rockies.

The Athletics have had at least four rookies in the batting order in 18 of their last 19 games, and 16 of the 33 players on their active roster are rookies. The Athletics have also used a club-record 21 rookies this season, breaking the old mark of 18 in 1983, and rookie pitchers have started 54 of their 154 games this year.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones leads the National League with a .362 batting average and is looking to become the first switch-hitter to win a batting title since Bill Mueller with the 2003 Red Sox. Terry Pendleton is both the last Braves player and the last switch-hitter to win a NL batting title, pulling off the feat in 1992. Jones also has a chance to have the top single-season batting average by a switch-hitter since 1900. The record is .365 by Mantle with the 1957 Yankees.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is the first player in major league history to hit 35 or more home runs in 11 consecutive seasons. His 12 career seasons with at least 35 homers ties him with Babe Ruth for the most seasons all-time. Rodriguez also holds major league records with 12 seasons and 11 consecutive seasons of at least 35 home runs, 100 runs scored, and 100 RBI.

The Dodgers had 18 hits but lost 15-8 to the Pirates on Wednesday. It marked just the 10th time since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958 that they lost with that many hits.

The Rays are 92-61, making them the sixth major league team to win 90 games immediately following a streak of 10 or more losing seasons. The others are: the 2006 Tigers (95-67, 12 seasons), 1979 Expos (95-65, 10), 1956 Reds (91-63, 11), 1914 Braves (94-59, 11), and 1912 Senators (91-51, 11).

The Rangers allowed 86 runs while going 3-6 against the Tigers this season, the most runs allowed by an American League team in a season series of fewer than 10 games.

Athletics rookie reliever Brad Ziegler has a 0.79 ERA in 57 innings this season. That is the third-best ERA among any major leaguer with at least 50 innings in a season, behind Dennis Eckersley (0.61, 1990 Athletics) and Rob Murphy (0.72, 1986 Reds).

The Twins are actually using the off day on monday to skip Glen Perkins in the rotation since he has been so awful lately. That makes the the Twins rotation against the Sox Baker, Blackburn, and Slowey.